ORLANDO,
Fla.,—Honoring more than 30 years of academic and research collaboration with
Siemens, the University of Central Florida today awarded the global technology
company with the prestigious President’s Partnership Award. UCF President John
C. Hitt presented the award to Siemens leaders at an innovation symposium
attended by Siemens employees, community and business leaders, and UCF faculty
and students.

“We are
grateful for Siemens’ cutting-edge work to advance the industry and drive
innovation,” said President Hitt. “This long-standing partnership prepares our
students for today’s challenges and builds the high-tech workforce that will
serve our community for decades to come.”

Over the
course of three decades, Siemens and UCF have partnered to focus on the
development of the energy sector. This includes the 2017 launch of UCF's
Digital Grid Innovation Laboratory – the first of its kind in the United
States; the Center of Innovation for Diagnostics and Prognostics research
program; and celebrating its 10th anniversary on-campus this year,
the Siemens Energy Center.

Today,
Siemens announced the next phase of its academic partnership with the
university: a major in-kind technology grant of Siemens’ Product Lifecycle
Management (PLM) software with a commercial value of $593 million. The software
grant, one of the largest made to the UCF Foundation, amplifies a similar
in-kind grant in 2016 that has already benefited hundreds of students in UCF's
Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER). The Siemens
software technology is used by 140,000 companies worldwide, including 75 in the
state and nearly a dozen in central Florida. A large number of UCF’s graduating
engineering students go on to secure employment at companies that use PLM
software.

"Siemens
has been innovating for the world from Orlando’s backyard for nearly 30 years,
and we are proud to serve as an industry leader for our academic partnership
with UCF,” said Steve Conner, CEO of Siemens’ Energy, Inc. "We are pleased
to grow this robust partnership that spans cutting-edge R&D leveraging
UCF’s strength in advanced turbomachinery and energy research, to providing UCF
students real-world experience on the same software and technology used
worldwide, offering a leg-up on the competition when they begin their
careers."

The software
relates to the design and manufacturing of sophisticated products for energy
and power generation, automotive, aerospace, machinery and high-tech
electronics. It helps engineers transform their ideas into real products by
providing information and feedback as the product moves from design to
prototype.

Mechanical
engineering doctoral student Marcel Otto, '15, works in CATER and interned at
Siemens. “This software helps you do what is done in industry," said Otto.
"It's user-friendly, hands-on, and is focused on efficient problem
solving, which is critical in industry where every minute counts to bring a
product to market.”

The software
will now be scaled up for use by all 11,000 students in UCF’s College of
Engineering and Computer Science and will be available for use in all phases of
students’ academic career, from freshman introductory courses to sophomore
design challenges, all the way through to junior and senior capstone design
courses. Students majoring in industrial engineering, electrical and computer
engineering, biomedical engineering and many more disciplines will utilize the
software as part of their course studies. For example, in the UCF
Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, the software will
be available in the ergonomics class, the study of engineering design for
optimal human interaction. Multiple student competition teams will also now
utilize the software, including UCF’s American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics (AIAA), BAJA Racing, and Formula SAE Racing teams.

“I’m proud
our community is home to a world-class public research institution like UCF and
to companies like Siemens that are willing to work together to invest in our
students and the future of our economy,” said U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie
Murphy. “For over 30 years, the UCF-Siemens partnership has produced
cutting-edge research and top-notch local talent in the engineering and
manufacturing industries. I’m encouraged to see that Siemens is continuing its
commitment to this public-private partnership through its generous donation.
This partnership strengthens the education of students pursuing high-paying
jobs in STEM fields and ensures our economy has the skilled workforce it needs
to continue growing.”

"Orlando
was recently recognized as the top city in America for STEM job growth,"
said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "That acknowledgement is proof of the
impact that partnerships like the one between UCF and Siemens are having as
part of our community's shared commitment to creating the jobs of tomorrow,
training the next generation of hometown high tech workers and growing our
innovation-based economy.”

“The digital
revolution that swept through travel, music and retail is now changing the way
we design and manufacture complex products, and software and technology are at
the core,” said Del Costy, senior vice president and managing director,
Americas for Siemens PLM Software. “Siemens is committed to connecting academia
and industry to develop future digital enterprise workers who can support
industries across the globe and by expanding our partnership with UCF, we are
doing just that.”

In January
of 2018, Siemens also established a partnership with BRIDG, the world’s first
not-for-profit industry-led smart sensor public-private partnership, which
includes UCF, in the semiconductor industry. Siemens is providing an in-kind
software grant valued at more than $30 million to BRIDG that will enable its
digital enterprise site to feature the complete Siemens product lifecycle
management (PLM) portfolio.

Cleveland, OH—Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LECO), the leader in arc welding and cutting solutions, held an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony earlier today to celebrate the grand opening of its new
Welding Technology & Training Center in Cleveland (the “Center”). The event highlights Lincoln’s expanded educational offering and commemorates the centennial anniversary of its welding school, the longest-running welding school in the world.

The Center focuses on training welding educators, engineers and industrial professionals who are advancing welding in schools and industry globally. Additionally, the Center provides advanced technical welding training for professionals, as well as a comprehensive portfolio of turnkey educational solutions that can be used to launch welding training at customers’ own facilities. Lincoln’s extensive education portfolio includes an extensive educational curriculum, virtual reality and technology-assisted training tools, industry-leading welding and cutting solutions and robotic cells.

“Our new Center is a strategic investment to help our customers and educational partners grow using leading solutions,” stated Christopher L. Mapes, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Lincoln Electric. “Our educational offering and leadership in automation solutions provide meaningful solutions to address the skills gap and capacity constraints facing customers in our industry.”

“We are committed to providing students and customers with the relevant skills and knowledge needed to support career and technical schools, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure growth,” said Jason Scales, business manager, education, Lincoln Electric. “Our education model will shape the next generation of welders, managers and industry leaders.”

Located on the company’s headquarters campus in Cleveland, the new 130,000-square-foot facility represents a $30 million investment in training for a new generation of welding leaders and educators. The Center is a state-of-the art educational facility that features 166 welding and cutting booths, a virtual reality training lab with 10 VRTEX® virtual reality welding simulators, as well as extensive seminar and welding school classroom space, and a 100-seat auditorium to advance technical skills. The Center will also become an American Welding Society accredited testing facility later this year.

ATLANTA, GA.—Acuity Brands, Inc. announced that Cheryl English, Vice President, Government & Industry
Relations, will be receiving a Women in
Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award
from The Manufacturing Institute. The STEP Ahead Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers and represent
all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory-floor to the C suite.

“The STEP Ahead
Award is a distinguished opportunity to recognize the tremendous contributions
of women in technology,” said English. “It’s an honor to be recognized with an
esteemed group of intelligent and passionate professionals in manufacturing.”

English has excelled in her position with
Acuity Brands for over 35 years promoting the science of lighting. She has
worked in various positions including application engineering, product
development, testing labs, marketing and public policy, and has also been
instrumental in the development and ongoing focus of the Company’s
sustainability priorities to reduce their use of natural resources and
recycling programs.

In her current role, English utilizes her
technical expertise and management experience to advocate for the advancement
of energy policy, smart buildings and integrated building solutions. She is currently the President of the
Illuminating Engineering Society (just the fifth woman in the Society’s
117-year history to lead the trade association), and just recently concluded
her term on the board of the National Institute of Building
Science.

English obtained her undergraduate degree at
the University of Colorado Architectural Engineering program, and her Executive
Masters of Business Administration at Georgia State University.

On
April 20, The Manufacturing Institute will recognize 130 recipients of the STEP
Ahead Awards at a reception in Washington, D.C. The STEP Ahead Awards program
will highlight each honoree’s story, including their leadership and
accomplishments in manufacturing. For more information about The Manufacturing
Institute and the STEP Ahead Awards, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org

“MITA is
pleased with the passage of the two-year suspension of the medical device tax,
as it ensures that our companies are able to continue investing in innovative
technologies to improve patient care,” said Joe Robinson, chairman of the MITA
board of directors and senior vice president of health systems solutions at
Philips Healthcare. “We are encouraged by the bipartisan support in Congress
and hope that policymakers will continue their work toward a long-term solution
to the tax.”

The House
joined the Senate in passing the bill to suspend the medical device tax. It
passed 81-18 in the Senate and 266-150 in the House.

KYOTO, Japan—Nidec
Corporation and Groupe PSA, through Nidec Leroy-Somer Holding (the “Nidec
Leroy-Somer”), intend to set up a joint venture dedicated to the design,
development, manufacture and sale of electric traction motors. For this
purpose, Nidec Leroy-Somer and Groupe PSA entered into a joint venture
agreement on December 4, 2017. Closing of such transaction remains subject to
antitrust clearance and employee representative consultation.

Nidec
Leroy-Somer and Groupe PSA have acknowledged the strategic importance of
traction motor in coming electrification age and agreed mutual cooperation for
developing high-performance and competitive electric traction motor range for
electrified vehicles such as Mild-hybrid (“MHEV”), Electric Vehicles (“EV”) and
Plug-in Hybrid (“PHEV”) to be developed by Groupe PSA and other OEMs.

The aim of
the partnership is to design, develop, manufacture and sell a range of electric
traction motors. The joint venture will then engage in R&D, manufacturing
and sales for high-performance electric traction motor mainly to Groupe PSA,
and to other OEMs later, by combining PSA’s knowledge on automotive as OEM and
Nidec Leroy-Somer’s expertise of motor and related electrical equipment.

1. Purpose
and Background of the Transaction
As some of the leading countries are set to ban sale of new gasoline/diesel
cars, electrification is the key to both solving global warming and controlling
air quality. Given the above trend, OEMs are accelerating their adoption of
electrified vehicle technologies. Along with this trend, electrification of
automobiles has been expanding and the market for electric motor for automotive
is foreseen to double its size to JPY 6 trillion (€ 45 billion) in 2030. Nidec
has been also active in this trend and developing products with its superior
motor expertise.

Nidec has
been actively developing a new growth platform with particular focus on
automotive business. In its midterm strategic goal Vision 2020 it has targeted
to achieve JPY 700 billion to 1 trillion (€ 5.4 to 7.6 billion) of sales in the
automotive sector in 2020.

Nidec
Leroy-Somer, acquired by Nidec in February 2017, is the leading motor company
in France and renowned for its high quality products in industrial area as well
as various other areas.

Groupe PSA,
the second largest market share of automotive industry in Europe, has been
actively accelerating its shift to electrified vehicles (MHEV, PHEV, EV). As
part of the energy transition process and in line with the technological
offensive spelled out in its Push to Pass strategic plan, Groupe PSA is focused
on diversifying its technological offering with plug-in hybrid petrol engines
and next-generation electric powertrains. Groupe PSA makes the strategic choice
to anchor in France the design and production of the main components of the
electric traction powertrain.

2.
Information on the joint venture:
Company name: To be determined
Headquarters: Carrières sous Poissy, Paris region, France
Representative: To be appointed by Nidec Leroy-Somer
Foundation: March to April 2018 (To be determined)
Main business: Development, production, and sales of automotive electric
traction motor
Initial Share Capitals: €15millions (Shareholders: Nidec Leroy-Somer 50%, PSA
automobiles* 50%) *PSA automobiles is a French company of Groupe PSA

5.
Effect on Financial Performance for the Current Fiscal Year
The Transaction is expected to have no significant impact on Nidec’s
consolidated financial performance for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.
Nidec will make additional disclosure on a timely basis in accordance with the
rules of the Tokyo Stock Exchange upon determination of further details.

West
Hartford, CT,—At the 2017 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo,
Legrand North and Central America’s Vice President of Sustainability, Energy
Efficiency and Public Policy, Susan Rochford, was named one of the winners of
the 2017 Women in Sustainability Leadership (WLSA) Awards.

Sponsored
by Green Building & Design Magazine, the awards were created to grow
awareness, promote advancement and support the development of women in
sustainability leadership. The awards were created around three key values:
environmental stewardship, conduit for change and giving back.

Since
joining Legrand in 2010, Rochford has championed the work of ensuring Legrand’s
leadership in sustainability. The company has set and achieved multiple
ambitious operational goals, uncovered sustainable product design
opportunities, prioritized transparency documentation to aid customers in
making better buying decisions, and launched a community volunteer program.

Rochford
is a leading voice in Legrand’s Better Communities Program, which directs
employee volunteerism and charitable contributions in three areas: providing
housing assistance to those in need; supporting relief efforts for natural
disaster; and bringing sustainable practices to schools in partnership with the
USGBC Center for Green Schools. Additionally, Rochford participates on the
Executive Committee for Legrand’s women-focused diversity initiative,
Elle@Legrand.

“Since
joining Legrand, Susan’s influence has been immeasurable. Every element of our
business has been impacted by her team’s positive efforts,” stated John
Selldorff, President and CEO, Legrand North and Central America. “On behalf of
our entire organization I’d like to congratulate her on this prestigious award
and well-deserved recognition and we look forward to her ongoing leadership and
vision to continuously improve every element of our organization.”

About
Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America

Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and
digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for
use in commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for
customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high
added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in particular, connected
devices stemming from Legrand’s global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program.
Legrand reported sales of $5.6 billion in 2016. Legrand has a strong presence
in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and
product lines that includes AFCO Systems, C2G, Cablofil, Chief, Da-Lite,
Electrorack, Finelite, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Nuvo, OCL, On-Q,
Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Sanus,
Solarfective, Vaddio, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on
Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40,
FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating, and DJSI (ISIN code
FR0010307819) www.legrand.us.

ATLANTA, GA,—Acuity Brands, Inc. today announced the appointment of Laurent J. Vernerey as Executive Vice President of the Company and President of the recently formed Acuity Technology Group (ATG). Mr. Vernerey was most recently President and CEO of Schneider Electric's North American Operations where he led the organization in its Industrial Internet effort, which focused on the challenges of urbanization, digitization and industrialization. Over his 30-year career with Schneider Electric, Mr. Vernerey held numerous senior leadership positions in key businesses across information services, distribution, administration, sales, purchasing, customer service and manufacturing.

Vernon J. Nagel, Chairman, President, and CEO of Acuity Brands, commented, "We are extremely excited to have Laurent join Acuity. Laurent's proven leadership capabilities and unique experience provides us the opportunity to accelerate the execution of our growth initiatives for ATG, which is comprised of our AtriusTM platform and software solutions as well as our intelligent components and controls businesses. The creation of ATG allows us to provide dedicated resources to focus on the market dynamics specific to smart lighting solutions, which includes the Internet of Things (IoT), and to also distinguish ATG's unique value propositions."

WEST
HARTFORD, Conn.,—Legrand
North and Central America, the global specialist in electrical and digital
infrastructures, today announced its disaster relief fundraiser for the
American Red Cross this year will amount to a total contribution of $98,750.
All money raised will provide assistance to the people and regions affected by
recent natural disasters throughout the country.

For
the second consecutive year, Legrand President and CEO John Selldorff and Data
Quality Manager and Better Communities Committee Leader Alyssa Adnani
encouraged the entire North and Central American employee population to donate,
incentivized by a company match up to $50,000.

“We
are extremely proud to be able to support this important cause,” said
Selldorff. “In addition to monetary donations, our employees have shown their
generosity through the organization of supply drives and organized blood drives.”

Since
Hurricane Harvey made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast on Aug. 25, the United
States and its territories have withstood a barrage of natural disasters and is
in the midst of yet another as many struggle to overcome the disastrous
wildfires in California.

The
Red Cross responds to nearly 66,000 disasters per year—ranging from
single-family disasters to city- and region-wide crises. One recent relief
operation underway in Louisiana is anticipated to cost at least $30
million. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the American Red Cross relies on
the support of generous Americans to fulfill its mission.

“At
Legrand, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to assist in the recovery
efforts of the many unfortunate natural disasters that have occurred in our
country,” said Adnani. “We are deeply committed to helping improve the lives of
those in the communities where we live and work, and this includes coming to
the aid of those in need in difficult times.”

###

About Legrand, North and Central America

Legrand is a global
specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its
comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial, and
residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation
for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for
growth, including, in particular, connected devices stemming from Legrand’s
global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program. Legrand
reported sales of $5.6 billion in 2016. Legrand has a strong presence in North
and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and product
lines that includes AFCO Systems, C2G, Cablofil, Chief, Da-Lite, Electrorack,
Finelite, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Nuvo, OCL, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass
& Seymour, Pinnacle, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Sanus, Solarfective,
Vaddio, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris
and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World,
ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating, and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819) www.legrand.us.

ABB announced the acquisition of
GE Industrial Solutions, GE’s global electrification solutions business. GE
Industrial Solutions has deep customer relationships in more than 100 countries
and an established installed base with strong roots in North America, ABB’s
biggest market. GE Industrial Solutions is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia,
and has about 13,500 employees around the world. In 2016, GE Industrial
Solutions had revenues of approximately $2.7 billion, with an operational
EBITDA margin of approximately 8 percent1and an operational EBITA margin of
approximately 6 percent1. ABB will acquire GE Industrial Solutions for $2.6 billion; the
transaction will be operationally accretive in year one. ABB expects to realize
approximately $200 million of annual cost synergies in year five, which will be
key in bringing GE Industrial Solutions to peer performance. As part of the
transaction and overall value creation, ABB and GE have agreed to establish a
long-term, strategic supply relationship for GE Industrial Solutions products
and ABB products that GE sources today.

“With GE Industrial Solutions, we
strengthen our Number 2 position in electrification globally and expand our access
to the attractive North American market,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.
“Combined with the long-term strategic supply relationship with GE, this
transaction creates significant value for our shareholders.”

He added: “Together with the GE
Industrial Solutions team, we will execute our well-established plans in a
disciplined way to bring this business as part of the global ABB family back to
peer performance. With this next step of active portfolio management, we
continue to shift ABB’s center of gravity, in line with our Next Level
strategy, by strengthening competitiveness, mainly in the North American
market, and lowering risk with an early-cycle business.”

“This combination brings together
two global businesses with a broad complement of electrical protection and
distribution assets,” said John Flannery, CEO of GE. “ABB values our people,
domain expertise, and our ability to operate in the segments where we have
depth and experience. GE will also benefit through an expanded strategic supply
relationship with ABB as the two companies work together.”

GE Industrial Solutions will be
integrated into ABB’s Electrification Products (EP) division, resulting in a
unique global portfolio and very comprehensive offering for North American and
global customers. They will benefit from ABB’s innovative technologies and the
ABB AbilityTM digital offering
coupled with GE Industrial Solutions’ complementary solutions and market
access. Included in the acquisition is a long-term right to use the GE brand.
ABB will retain the GE Industrial Solutions management team and build upon its
experienced sales force. After closing, this transaction will have an initial
dampening effect to EP’s operational EBITA margin. ABB commits to returning EP
to its target margin corridor of 15-19 percent during 2020.

Tarak Mehta, President of ABB’s
EP division, said: “This acquisition strengthens our position as partner of
choice for electrification globally and in North America. We look forward to
working with GE Industrial Solutions’ and ABB’s customers and channel partners
to create new opportunities in this highly attractive core market for our
division. We have a clear integration plan to realize the synergies of this
combination and to bring our combined business back into the target margin
corridor during 2020.”

ABB’s EP division delivers more
than 1.5 million products to customers around the world every day through a
global network of channel partners and end-customers. EP offers a comprehensive
portfolio of low- and medium-voltage products and solutions for a smarter, more
reliable flow of electricity from substation to socket.

Given this transaction, ABB has
decided to put the previously announced share buyback program on hold.

The transaction is expected to close in H1 2018, subject
to customary regulatory clearances. Credit Suisse and Dyal Co. acted as
financial advisors to ABB, and Davis Polk & Wardwell provided legal
counsel.

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash.— Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water, announced today that it received the Chairman's Award from the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) for its OpenWay Riva IoT solution for smart cities and smart utilities. Itron will accept the award at the Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner on Sept. 14, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The annual award is given to an individual or organization that has shown exemplary service to the cause of energy efficiency. Past winners include IBM, Elon Musk and Johnson Controls.

"Energy efficiency is a field of innovation and Itron is among six award winners that are at the cutting edge," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "These honorees are each taking a lead in building a more efficient and productive economy, protecting the environment and strengthening our energy security. We are delighted to honor them for doing more with less."

Advocating for sustainable energy, ASE is a bipartisan alliance of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders. As the leading energy efficiency coalition in the United States, ASE presents annual Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards, which honor the top energy efficiency innovators.

"Energy efficiency is the cheapest and fastest way to address our energy challenges in New Hampshire and around the country," said Senator Shaheen. "I'm proud to award this year's Chairman's Award to Itron for their OpenWay Riva technology, which has helped reduce the demand on the energy grid, leading to improved energy efficiency and water resource management. These technologies are good for our economy and good for our environment, and along with the Alliance to Save Energy, I commend Itron for its innovation and commitment."

OpenWay Riva, the next generation IoT solution for smart utilities and cities, is a significant leap forward in technology that is a powerful distributed computing platform for accelerating innovation in energy management. Itron and its ecosystem partners are working with utilities and cities globally to take advantage of new sensing and application capabilities to make real-time decisions at the edge of a utility or city network. This means greater efficiency and empowerment for utilities, cities and consumers.

"Itron is honored to receive this recognition by Senator Shaheen and the Alliance for our OpenWay Riva solution, which utilizes distributed intelligence, machine-to-machine learning and advanced network communications to drive the resourceful use of energy and water around the world," said Mark de Vere White, president of Itron's Electricity business line.

About ItronItron is a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water. We provide comprehensive solutions that measure, manage and analyze energy and water. Our broad product portfolio includes electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement devices and control technology; communications systems; software; as well as managed and consulting services. With thousands of employees supporting nearly 8,000 customers in more than 100 countries, Itron applies knowledge and technology to better manage energy and water resources. Together, we can create a more resourceful world. Join us: www.itron.com.

Itron® and OpenWay® are registered trademarks of Itron, Inc. All third party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated.

Shepherdstown, WV—Daylighting can have such a powerful effect on office workers' comfort, well-being, and productivity, the buildings they occupy are now being oriented and designed to bring as much daylight as possible into occupied spaces. So say three experts on the topic, impaneled at the National Lighting Bureau's
Annual Lighting Forum. Moderated by
EdisonReportEditor and Publisher Randy Reid, the panel comprised:

Sara Lappano, P.E., LC, LEED AP (SmithGroupJJR);

Brent Protzman, Ph.D., LC (Lutron Electronics); and

Seth Warren Rose (Eneref Institute).

Underscoring the impact of effective daylighting, Mr. Rose recounted a story about five libraries in Berkeley, California. The least-used library provided low-quality daylighting to the facility's occupants. Once the building was renovated, with extensive focus on its daylighting characteristics, the library became Berkeley's most popular.

Ms. Lappano noted that developing effective daylighting design is not simple. It requires a team approach involving the architect, lighting designer, electrical engineer, and – for purposes of energy-use modeling – the mechanical engineer. As Dr. Protzman noted, however, the team needs to develop a solution at the outset, and all team members need to focus on making it happen. In that respect, Ms. Lappano commented that team members must realize that more daylighting is not necessarily better daylighting, given that too much daylighting can have a negative impact on energy consumption and overall lighting quality.

As one outcome of the new emphasis on daylighting, Ms. Lappano said, new buildings tend to be "slimmer" than their older counterparts, allowing almost all occupants to have a view out the window, giving almost all workers some of the benefit of a "corner office." While this approach costs more to build on a per-square-foot basis, Dr. Protzman noted that those who intend to purchase or rent space find that the benefits of better daylighting justify higher prices for space acquisition.

The National Lighting Bureau is an independent, IRS-recognized not-for-profit, educational foundation that has served as a trusted lighting-information source since 1976. The Bureau's services are provided to the public free of charge, thanks to the generous funding of the organization's sponsors: professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, manufacturers, and agencies of the U.S. government, including:

MENTOR, OH—EYE Lighting International employees worked hard during the United Way of Lake County 25th annual Day of Caring to enhance landscaping at Crossroads behavioral health agency by cleaning up outside and adding fresh mulch to the walkway through the tranquility garden.

This was the sixth year EYE Lighting employees had volunteered their construction and gardening skills to help organizations and businesses within Lake County. On June 28, at the Crossroads building in Mentor, employees were landscaping around the building, including pulling weeds and mulching a garden pathway. The garden provides a quiet, reflective place for Crossroads behavioral health patients that include children, adolescents, adults and seniors.

Tom Salpietra, President and COO commented, "Our employees enjoy giving back each year on the Day of Caring which allows them a chance to get out of their normal setting for the day and help those most in need within our community. It is an honor to be part of the hundreds of volunteers needed to complete necessary projects for our friends and neighbors in the community." Tom also serves on the United Way of Lake County Board of Directors.

EYE Lighting was one of nearly 60 volunteer organizations that had agreed to help out with over 100 community project requests submitted for the 25th annual Day of Caring coordinated by United Way of Lake County. Community project requests received from churches, nursing homes, schools, and nonprofit organizations vary in expansiveness. Through ongoing support, hundreds of volunteers annually paint, scrape, weed, mulch and bring a smile to individuals and groups who are disabled or financially disadvantaged.

"At the end of the day, our employees are tired and proud to have given back to the community, especially children and seniors that have a hard time doing yard work and general maintenance. A couple years ago, our team of volunteers was enlightened after working at a safe house. We were able to make that place feel more like a home – giving the children a welcoming place to play and helping families feel proud to live there," said Maureen Lundi and Kate Vezdos, who help coordinate EYE Lighting volunteers.

In addition to the Day of Caring, EYE Lighting employees support the United Way throughout the year. Over the last three years employees have donated over 100 pounds of food for our local food pantries and participated in annual fundraising campaign events, like this year's kick-off at Classic Park stadium in Eastlake.

About EYE Lighting
International

EYE Lighting International is a leading
provider of lighting products with more than 25 years of innovation in lighting
technology. EYE Lighting manufactures technically superior products
featuring solid-state LED luminaires, High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps and
Controls. The products are specified by lighting designers, utilities,
municipalities, lighting management and energy service companies, and are used
in commercial and industrial applications and for sports and infrastructure
lighting. EYE Lighting’s products provide superior quality, reliability,
excellent color rendering and long-life. Every day satisfied customers
use EYE-brand products to reduce energy use, reduce maintenance, and meet their
sustainability goals. www.eyelighting.com

ST. Louis—The Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis (AACC) has presented Nidec Motor Corporation CEO Kei Pang with its Executive of the Year award. Pang was honored for his professional and personal accomplishments in corporate business.

A global executive with 33 years of experience, Pang has been successful in developing, restructuring, growing and running a business in a broad range of industries, covering many geographic regions. As the CEO for Nidec Motor Corporation, he leads Nidec's global operations for the Appliance, Commercial and Industrial Motors (ACIM) business units and is responsible for the development and execution of the strategic vision of this business group.

"Kei is an outstanding business leader who has generously donated his time and energies toward bringing people together to share common values and aspirations for the good of the community," said AACC President Al Li. "In addition to being forces in economic development, Kei and Nidec are also major contributors to many charitable and educational initiatives, including sponsorship of the annual Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and endowing a scholarship at the University of Missouri-St. Louis for international business."

"Nidec's mission is to develop high quality products and services that will contribute to the prosperity of society, our company and all our employees," said Pang. "We are proud to work with AACC, and appreciate the work it does to build and strengthen business and social relationships that benefit all of our communities."

Pang holds a Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering from the University of London and an MBA with Distinction from the University of Michigan.

About the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of St. Louis

Founded in 2011, the mission of the AACC of St. Louis is to build a community of Asian professionals, Asian business owners, and those engaging in business throughout Asia. For more information, visit aaccstl.org

About Nidec Motor Corporation

NMC is a leading manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and appliance motors and controls. The NMC product line features a full line of high efficiency motors, large and small, which serve industrial, residential, and commercial markets in applications ranging from agriculture, water treatment, mining, oil and gas, and power generation to pool and spa motors, air conditioning condensers, rooftop cooling towers, and commercial refrigeration. It also makes motors, controls, and switches for automotive and commercial markets. For more information, visit www.nidec-motor.com/

ROSSLYN, Va.,—The Lighting Controls Association (LCA), a
council of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), has
announced a new partnership with the California Community College System (CCCS)
to educate tomorrow’s electrical workforce about energy-saving lighting
controls throughout California.

CCCS is the largest system of higher education
in the nation, with 2.1 million students attending 113 colleges. This partnership aims to upskill an electrical
workforce in support of California’s goal to
dramatically reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, notably in
the area of lighting automation. The South Orange County Community College
District’s Irvine Valley College established this partnership and led an
initiative that provides access to industry-valued curriculum across all
California community colleges.

LCA is a lighting industry sponsored activity dedicated
to promoting lighting controls through education. LCA’s distance-education
system, Education Express, offers more than 50 hours of free online instruction
in lighting control technology, design, application and commissioning.
Education Express courses are registered with the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) Continuing Education System, National Council on Quality in
the Lighting Professions (NCQLP), and the California Advanced Lighting Controls
Training Program (CALCTP).

Under the agreement, CCCS will facilitate
educator and student access to the Education Express curriculum via participating
colleges. Initially implementing a pilot program, CCCS estimates students from as
many as 60 colleges will ultimately enroll in Education Express. Students who
complete the Education Express program gain a broad and deep understanding of
lighting controls and qualify for CALCTP and CALCTP-AT training and
certification.

“We are excited about this strategic
partnership which enhances our technical career education mission for both new
students and the incumbent workforce,” said Corine Doughty, Dean, Irvine Valley
College.

“For nearly 20 years, the Lighting Controls
Association has educated the public about controlled lighting,” said Gary
Meshberg, LEED AP, LC, Chair of the LCA and Director of Sales for Encelium.
“We’re very excited about this new partnership with CCCS to educate tomorrow’s
electrical workforce in California.”

Norcross, GA.—Halco Lighting Technologies
announces that Fawaz Khalil will be taking the helm as the company's Chief
Executive Officer, following the retirement of its CEO, Kim Cook. Both Fawaz
and Kim will continue to serve on the Board of Directors at Halco.

Cook's career at Halco has spanned more than 24 years. The first
13 years of her career were spent in sales roles including National Sales
Manager and VP Sales and Marketing. In 2005, Cook was promoted to Chief
Operating Officer. She became President in 2012, followed by CEO in 2015.
During her tenure, Cook was instrumental in Halco's impressive growth through
her leadership, channel strategy, and major product category launches.

"After being promoted to CEO in 2015, I continued our focus
on identifying and leveraging industry trends to ensure continued success. In
recent years, the industry has undergone significant technology shifts in both
lamps and luminaires, which will only continue with the introduction of IoT in
the lighting space." Cook said. "The decision to step down required
much introspection and careful consideration. In light of where the industry is
heading it was clear that I needed to step down and let Fawaz take the reins
for this next phase of growth and success for Halco," she concluded.

Khalil brings both lighting industry experience and managing aggressive
growth in diverse industries from early stage startups to Fortune500 companies.

Most recently, he was President - Purafil, at the Filtration Group
where he delivered a successful turnaround of a global business delivering 3x
market growth and 30% profit growth in a year through strategy development and
disciplined execution, while driving lean principles across all functions,
including sales, marketing, product management, operations, finance and
customer service.

Prior to his role at Purafil, he was Vice President and General
Manager for Vertical Markets and IoT solutions at Acuity Brands where he was
responsible for developing the overall business strategy, top line revenue,
creating value-added vertical market solutions, IoT smart lighting-enabled
applications, and remote and field delivered services, ultimately, transforming
the business profile and accelerating growth into higher margin businesses.
While at Acuity Brands, he also managed the full P&L for the Industrial
division which includes high and low bay luminaires, emergency and exit
lighting, modular wiring and daylighting solutions for various end
markets. Before joining Acuity Brands, Fawaz spent eight years with
Danaher Corporation, a global science and technology company. Khalil served the
company in manufacturing, marketing and general management positions. His key
accomplishments included double-digit core growth and share expansion in a
shrinking market by developing segmentation, pricing and digital marketing
capabilities. Additionally, he was the subject-matter expert across
Danaher for value-added solutions and service commercialization best practices.

Khalil holds a BS in Computer Science from the National University
of Computing and Emerging Sciences in Pakistan and an MBA from the Darden
School of Business at the University of Virginia. He and his family
reside in Johns Creek, GA.

About Halco Lighting Technologies

Halco Lighting
Technologies® is a leading manufacturer lighting solutions including energy
efficient lamps, ballasts and lighting luminaires. Founded in 1974, Halco's
extensive product line includes the following brands: ProLED®, ProLume®,
HaloXen®, Prism®, CoverShield® and Sollos® Landscape Lighting. Strategically
located, fully stocked warehouses in Atlanta, Carlstadt, Cleveland,
Houston, Los Angeles and Phoenix ship orders placed by 2:00 PM local warehouse
time the same day.

HIGHLAND
HEIGHTS, KY—The
Edison Awards, celebrating 30 years of honoring the best in innovation and
excellence in the development of new products and services, announced today
that General Cable was voted a Gold Winner for Innovation in the Energy
and Sustainability Category at the April 20th event at The Capitale
in New York City. General Cable President and Chief Executive Officer Mike
McDonnell joined hundreds of senior executives from some of the world’s most
recognized companies to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of all of the
2017 Edison Awards winners.

“Innovation
has been at the core of our company culture for over 170 years,” said Mike
McDonnell, President and Chief Executive Officer, General Cable. “Being named
as an Edison Awards Gold Winner further validates General Cable as a leader and
innovator of solutions to our customers’ needs for safer, more efficient and
more effective transport of power and data. We are excited to be the first wire
and cable company to receive this prestigious award in the 30 year history of
the Edison Awards.”

Being
recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a
company can receive in the name of innovation and business. The awards are
named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product
development methods and innovative achievements literally changed the world,
garnered him 1,093 U.S. patents, and made him a household name around the
world.

“We
are continuously investing in technology innovations that will enhance the
performance, safety and reliability of our products,” said Srini Siripurapu,
Vice President, Technology, General Cable. “This award is a culmination of the
cross functional E3X® product development team’s perseverance and
unwavering support from our Utility customers who have successfully deployed
this technology.”

The
ballot of nominees for the Edison Awards was judged by a panel of more than
3,000 leading business executives including past award winners, academics and
leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and
medical.

“Our
judges recognized General Cable and their TransPowr® Overhead
Conductors with E3X® Technology as a true innovator out of the many
products in its category,” said Frank Bonafilia, executive director of the
Edison Awards.

About
E3X®

To
learn more about TransPowr® Overhead Conductors with E3X®
Technology, please visit e3x.generalcable.com.

About
the Edison Awards

The
Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. For more information
about the Edison Awards, Edison Universe and a list of past winners, visit www.edisonawards.com.

About
General Cable

General Cable (NYSE:BGC), with
headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a global leader in the
development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of aluminum,
copper and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, communications,
industrial, construction and specialty markets. General Cable is one of the
largest wire and cable manufacturing companies in the world, operating
manufacturing facilities in its core geographical markets, and has sales
representation and distribution worldwide. For more information about General
Cable visit our website at www.generalcable.com.

ST. PAUL, Minn.—In 1902, Thomas Edison was still an avid inventor. His ingenuity and scientific pursuits resulted in technologies that would impact the everyday living for millions of people. Also in 1902 was the inception of 3M, which ever since has applied science to life with Edison's same determination as a way to improve the daily lives of its consumers. 3M today announced that two of its most innovative and advanced technologies have been selected to receive a 2017 Edison Award — a global recognition honoring innovators that create a positive impact in the world. The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 from 3M Food Safety received a Gold and 3M™ Mobile True Definition Scanner from 3M Oral Care received a Bronze Edison Award in the Diagnostic Tools category.

​​ROSSLYN, Va.—As part of the 2017 Annual Meetings of the IECEx System, on September 27, the USNC/IECEx committee is hosting the IECEx ​World Symposium: A Capital Idea. This symposium will provide a forum for industry professionals to discuss U.S. and IEC principles, including codes, standards, and regulations for hazardous location (HazLoc) equipment and services. Guest speakers from the IECEx System, GE Oil & Gas, UL LLC, DuPont, IAEI, OSHA, MSHA, and others will participate in this dialogue with attendees representing plant managers, engineers, certifiers, inspectors, and regulators, at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C.

"HazLoc product standards and equipment installation codes differ across countries and regions, which affects manufacturers' ability to compete in today's global marketplace," said Paul Kelly, a leading expert on global hazardous locations. "This symposium will provide information, along with an opportunity to directly address the stakeholders who are affected by these codes and standards."

Symposium attendees will learn how U.S. and IEC HazLoc requirements impact their respective facilities and product lines. They will identify barriers to global design, production, and installation of HazLoc equipment and represent their respective businesses during interactive discussion with prominent U.S. manufacturers, certifiers, installers, and inspection and regulatory experts.

The IECEx System works to facilitate international trade in equipment and services for use in explosive atmospheres, while maintaining the required level of safety. This is achieved through reducing testing and certification costs to manufacturers, reducing time to market, boosting international confidence in the product assessment process, providing an international database listing, and maintaining international confidence in equipment and services covered by IECEx certification.

​The USNC/IECEx manages all U.S. policy and technical participation in the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx System). As the U.S. member body to the IECEx System, the committee also coordinates with U.S. IECEx Certification Bodies (ExCBs) to assure that national differences on standards for safety that are accepted for use in the IECEx System are uniform for all ExCBs.

Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec, CA—Stelpro, a family‐owned Canadian manufacturer founded in 1981 and known for its integrated heating solutions, is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for a third consecutive year.

"This recognition is a testament yet again to the hard work, passion and commitment of all Stelpro employees to innovate and offer quality products to our customers," says company president Yves Chabot. "It also confirms that the values that have guided our activities for over 35 years are being firmly embraced in our growth strategies."

A business plan focused on growth, optimal product quality and increased productivity also contributed to Stelpro's selection as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for the third year in a row.

Created in 1993, Canada's Best Managed Companies is Canada's leading business awards program. It highlights the performance of companies with more than $10 million in sales that are owned and managed by Canadians. The designation "Best Managed" showcases the success of these Canadian companies in staying focused on their vision, creating value for their stakeholders, and excelling in a global context.

###

About STELPRO

Since 1981, °STELPRO has been offering a unique line of efficient and innovative heating products, thermostats, heating cables and HVAC, designed and manufactured in Canada and meeting the highest quality standards in the industry. The company employs over 450 people in two manufacturing plants, one in Saint‐Bruno‐de‐Montarville and the other in Grand‐Mère. It manufactures and sells over 800,000 heating units annually (baseboards, convectors and others), making it the North American leader in the electric heating industry. °STELPRO has ranked as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies since 2014.

WEST HARTFORD, Conn.—During two annual sales meetings earlier this year,
three Legrand divisions – Electrical Wiring Systems, Building Control Systems,
and Data Communications – held fundraisers to benefit Building Homes for
Heroes. The two events combined, one in Washington, D.C. and the other in San
Antonio, TX, raised more than $80,000 (USD), which was matched dollar for
dollar by Legrand, for a total donation of $161,000. The funds, raised by
Legrand sales teams, executive leaders and participating partners, including
Superior Essex, will be used to build new homes for veterans, and to install
appropriate home automation technologies.

A portion of this year’s donation will
support United States Air Force Captain Nathan Nelson, who was injured during
his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. Captain Nelson was part of a special
operations team that came under heavy fire in September 2013. He sustained a
spinal cord injury in addition to multiple other traumas. As a result, Captain
Nelson has no movement below his chest and limited use of his hands. For his
service to our country, Captain Nelson was awarded a Purple Heart and other
commendations recognizing his bravery and sacrifice.

In addition to the monetary contribution,
Legrand will also donate home automation and electrical solutions that will
make life easier for him and other wounded veterans. The products include: Intuity
home automation and radiant
RF lighting controls, which allow residents to regulate the lights
and electrical outlets in their home via smartphone apps, Wattstopper sensors that automatically turn
lights on when an individual enters the room and turn off when the room is
unoccupied, and Plugmold multi-outlet power strips for USB
charging. Once construction on the new home in Florida is complete, Captain
Nelson will reside there with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Eva.

“We’re really proud of the way Legrand
stepped up and showed their support for our veterans, and for the wonderful
work Building Homes for Heroes is doing on behalf of those members of the U.S.
Armed Forces who return home with serious injuries,” said Paul Finnegan,
executive vice president of sales at the Data Communications Division of
Legrand. “We hope the collective efforts of Legrand team members will help
veterans transition back to civilian life, as well as demonstrate our deep
gratitude for their service to our country.”

Giving Back

This is the second year that Legrand has
donated the proceeds from its national sales meeting fundraiser to Building
Homes for Heroes. To date, Legrand has raised more than $250K for the
nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that was founded in 2006. Building Homes
for Heroes is committed to transforming and rebuilding lives by supporting the
brave individuals who were injured while serving our country. The organization
builds or modifies homes to suit the veteran’s specific needs and gifts the
home — mortgage-free — to them and their families.

“Building Homes for Heroes is one of the
national charitable organizations that Legrand supports as part of its Better Communities initiative. Our purpose in
this initiative is to enhance community and employee welfare through programs
that help people enjoy healthier, more productive and more rewarding lives,”
said Brian DiBella, president of the EWS division. “Last year, Legrand raised
more than $88,000 on behalf of Building Homes for Heroes. This year, we’re
raising the bar by outfitting a home with automated electrical solutions, which
will have an even greater impact on this veteran’s life.”

“We are extremely grateful for Legrand’s
support for our nation’s injured veterans. Their generous contributions are
critical in allowing us to advance our mission of giving back to those who have
sacrificed the most to keep our country safe,” stated Andy Pujol, Founder and
President, Building Homes for Heroes. “Together, we are building homes and
rebuilding lives.”

Legrand is a global
specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive
offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial and residential markets
makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of
new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in
particular, connected devices stemming from Legrand’s global Eliot
(Electricity and IoT) program. Legrand reported sales of $5.3
billion in 2015. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America,
with a portfolio of well-known product lines that include C2G, Cablofil,
Electrorack, Luxul, Middle Atlantic, Nuvo, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour,
Pinnacle, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Solarfective, Vantage, Wattstopper, and
Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of
indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom
Rating and DJSI www.legrand.us.

Legrand North America is a Challenge Partner to
the US Dept. of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Program; an Ally
Member of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE); an
Associate Member of the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE); and a Platinum member of
the US Green Building Council.

Installation record proves plug and play transformers
cuts down replacement time from months to days

Siemens and Con
Edison of New York, Inc. have successfully installed an innovative and
versatile plug and play mobile resilience power transformer in record
time. While it usually takes several weeks to transport and install a new
power transformer on-site, the team completed transformer positioning and final
installation in only 30 hours.

“Grid resilience
is a matter that is very important for us as well as our customers – and in the
end, also for society,” said Dr. Beatrix Natter, CEO of Siemens Transformers.
“The fast-track installation time of our innovative plug and play mobile
resilience transformers is proof that our grid resilience concept is a real
first aid kit for emergency situations.”

Siemens mobile
resilience transformers were developed together with Con Edison as a part of
the Siemens Pretact® concept for maximum grid resiliency. Siemens delivered the
mobile resilience transformers late last year that will act as an emergency
measure in case of unplanned outages – like those caused by hurricanes – or for
planned outages.

The transformers
were designed as single-phase units to be as compact and lightweight as
possible. For ease and quick installation, they are transported fluid filled
(transport weight of 216,000 lbs includes fluid) and equipped with plug and
play bushings and cable connections. The insulation fluid is ester, a synthetic
fluid derived from natural oils, instead of mineral oil, reducing the fire and
explosion risk as well as mitigating possible environmental threats.
Additionally, ester allows for operation at higher temperatures, which reduces
the unit’s size and weight. To be able to quickly connect the transformers to
different substations, they are designed in a versatile way and have
connections for several voltage levels (345 kV, 138 kV or 69 kV) and the
secondary connection may be made via bushing to an overhead bus or via a plug
in cable connection.

The assembly and
installation of the units was performed by three teams who were supported by
representatives from Siemens, Pfisterer & MR Reinhausen. The teams
disconnected the existing transformer from the station overhead bus and
installed transformer bushings and surge arresters, set up the pothead stands
and secondary cable connections, mounted and connected the common control
cabinet and set up the control cable connections between the transformers and
the relay house.

For easy storage
and fast deployment all accessories are containerized and allow for maximum
flexibility of setup depending on the specific location where the transformers
are needed. For example, the 138 kV connections to the bus were at a
distance of 150-220 feet from the units, but the easy to install cables and
pothead stands nevertheless allowed for a connection within just a few hours.
Distances up to 400 feet can be managed because of cable extension sockets that
are provided with the units. Even the common control cabinet can be placed over
150 feet away from the units and still be connected with all three transformers
within less than two hours. After installation, the commissioning team tested
the transformers and connections to the relay building, which marked the final
step of the fastest 300 MVA EHV transformer installation in history.

The Pretact®
concept of Siemens Transformers combines several modules that assist
transformer operators in preventing transformer failures by dedicated service
measures, protecting transformers from harm like by natural disasters, and the
innovative mobile resilience transformers that offer a backup for unplanned
outages, just in case all other precautions fail, and support the coverage
during planned outages as well.

West
Hartford, CT.—Legrand,
North America today announced that it has acquired Original Cast Lighting, Inc.
(OCL), a lighting manufacturer based in St. Louis, MO, that offers decorative
and custom lighting fixtures designed with the latest technology for commercial
applications.

“This
market continues to grow as digital technology transforms product offerings,
while lighting designers and specifiers drive demand for more innovative and
contemporary lighting solutions,” said John Selldorff, CEO, Legrand North and
Central America. “The acquisition by Legrand will strengthen OCL’s ability to
offer a full complement of innovative, attractive, and solution-oriented
lighting products that meet customers’ evolving needs and transform the spaces
where our customers live and work.”

Moving
forward, OCL will continue to operate as a standalone business within Legrand,
North America. “For over 44 years, OCL has been dedicated to designing
lighting fixtures that enhance building environments, create energy savings,
and respond to the evolving needs of the design community,” said Josh Shapiro,
President, OCL. “Joining forces with Legrand, North America will enable us to
greatly enhance our ability to expand our product offerings and to bring those
products to market much faster than we could have in the past.”

Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and
digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for
use in commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for
customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high
added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in particular, connected
devices stemming from Legrand’s global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program.
Legrand reported sales of $5.3 billion in 2015. Legrand has a strong presence
in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known product lines that
include C2G, Cablofil, Electrorack, Luxul, Middle Atlantic, Nuvo, On-Q,
Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan,
Solarfective, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext
Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI
World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819) www.legrand.us.

We recognized that a challenge for many decision makers, especially in smaller to medium-sized businesses, has been to obtain comprehensive information on the trade and economic contribution of manufactured goods in the global clean energy economy.

To make that information more accessible, we commissioned this first-ever annual assessment of the state of global clean energy manufacturing. This report details trade and economic benchmarks for the global manufacture of four essential clean energy technologies: wind turbine components, crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, vehicle lithium ion battery cells, and light-emitting diode (LED) packages.

The data shows several very positive findings for the U.S. role in global clean energy manufacturing:

The United States is one of the top five manufacturing economies globally.

Of the 12 economies evaluated, the United States retains the highest manufacturing value added, which means that money spent on clean energy products in the United States tends to stay in the United States, benefitting domestic manufacturing plants and workers.

The United States has the highest demand for clean energy technologies among the 12 key economies, which is promising for domestic production growth because consumer proximity can be a major factor when deciding where to locate manufacturing, especially for technologies that are difficult and costly to transport such as wind turbine components.

The United States has significant manufacturing output in multiple technologies.

These findings show that the U.S. economy is in a position to continue to benefit domestically from clean energy manufacturing. Continued progress in these technologies and in advanced manufacturing processes will ensure that the U.S. can maintain and strengthen its position in clean energy manufacturing in the years to come. ​​

​Washington, D.C.—The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) today commended Representatives Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and Ron Kind (D-WI) for introducing bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2.3 percent medical device excise tax that went into effect on January 1, 2013 and was suspended for two years on December 31, 2015. The "Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017" was introduced today with 220 original cosponsors.

"We appreciate the leadership of Congressmen Paulsen and Kind on this bipartisan issue and for their longtime support in championing job creation, economic growth, and patient care through investment in the medical technology industry," said Joe Robinson, chairman of MITA board of directors and senior vice president of health systems solutions at Philips Healthcare. "Full repeal of the medical device tax will create jobs and is the only way to remove a significant barrier in investing in innovation, and research and development, thereby allowing the next generation of life-saving, breakthrough technologies to become a reality."

The American medical technology industry is a true economic success story, providing jobs for more than 400,000 people, paying out salaries that are 40 percent more than the national average ($58,000 vs. $42,000), and investing nearly $10 billion in research and development annually to advance patient care in the United States and around the world. The industry is fueled by innovative companies, the majority of which are small businesses, with 80 percent of companies having fewer than 50 employees. However, the vitality of these companies has been jeopardized by the medical device tax, which resulted in the loss or deferral of more than 33,000 industry jobs before it was suspended in 2015.

###

The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of NEMA, is the collective voice of medical imaging equipment and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, innovators and product developers. It represents companies whose sales comprise more than 90 percent of the global market for advanced medical imaging technology. For more information, visit www.medicalimaging.org. Follow MITA on Twitter @MITAToday.

WEST HARTFORD, CONN.—Legrand North America, the global specialist in electrical and digital infrastructures, today announced its fundraiser for disaster relief through the Red Cross will make a total contribution of $112,540. All money raised will provide assistance to the people and regions affected by natural disasters throughout the country.

Legrand President and CEO John Selldorff and Data Quality Manager and Better Communities Committee Leader Alyssa Adnani encouraged all North American associates to donate, incentivizing them with a dollar-for-dollar company match.

“I’m pleased to report that a number of Legrand associates throughout the country generously contributed to this important cause,” said Selldorff. “Since we have much to be thankful for, and we have been fortunate in our achievements this year, I’m very proud to announce that we will contribute the full $100,000 on top of the employee voluntary contributions to support the Red Cross in their ongoing disaster relief efforts.”

Over the past few months, citizens across the U.S. have experienced floods, wildfires, hurricanes and residential fires – events that took the lives of many and left thousands in need of the most basic necessities. 2016 saw 16 consecutive major disasters across the country. As always, the Red Cross has been there to help provide local aid and assistance.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 66,000 disasters each year—ranging from single-family crises to city- and region-wide crises. The recent relief operation underway in Louisiana is anticipated to cost at least $30 million. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the American Red Cross relies on the support of generous Americans to fulfill its mission.

“Our employees share a deep sense of responsibility to assist those in need whenever we can,” said Adnani. “Our Better Communities program provides the platform for our employees to give not only their money but also their time to organizations where Legrand can leverage its key competencies for the greatest impact. We’re happy to be able to help provide assistance to our neighbors and fellow citizens through the Red Cross.”

###

About Legrand, North America

Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in particular, connected devices stemming from Legrand’s global
Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program. Legrand reported sales of $5.3 billion in 2015. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known product lines that include C2G, Cablofil, Electrorack, Luxul, Middle Atlantic, Nuvo, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Solarfective, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819)
www.legrand.us.

SAN JOSE, CA.—Legrand, North America and its Wattstopper product line was recognized by Affiliated Distributors (AD), the largest contractor and industrial products wholesale buying group in North America. Legrand was presented with the US Supplier of the Year, Performance Over $10 Million
award during AD's annual Spirit of Independence Awards banquet held at its Electrical North American Meeting in October 2016.

The Spirit of Independence Awards program honors the commitment that AD members and supplier partners have made to independent distribution and their contribution to the industry. Specifically, the US Supplier of the Year award is given to companies that experienced high growth in sales and is recognized as a premier marketing partner providing consistent support to AD members.

"Legrand is honored to receive this award," said Jeff Jervah, Director of Distribution Sales for Wattstopper at Legrand. "We're proud to be recognized as a valued partner that is easy to do business with. We look forward to building stronger relationships and furthering our commitment with support for AD member organizations."

Accepting the award for Legrand were (left to right): Jeff Jervah,
Director of Distribution Sales and Bob Bonacci, Vice President Sales

About Wattstopper

Wattstopper, a product line of Legrand, offers the most comprehensive line of simple, scalable and flexible energy efficient lighting controls and solutions for commercial and residential applications. The Wattstopper range of products, programs, and services have been helping customers save energy, meet green initiatives and comply with energy codes for more than 30 years.
www.legrand.us/wattstopper.

About Legrand

Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth, including in particular connectable products enhancing value in use. Legrand reported sales of $5.3 billion in 2015. Legrand has a strong presence in North America, with a portfolio of well-known product lines that include C2G, Cablofil, Electrorack, Middle Atlantic, Nuvo, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, QMotion, Quiktron, QMotion, Raritan, Solarfective, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819).
www.legrand.us.

The U.S. Department of Energy today announced nearly $25 million for 13 projects aimed at advancing technologies for energy-efficient electric motors through applied research and development. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) Next Generation Electric Machines projects will address the limitations of traditional materials and designs used in electric motor components by cost-effectively enhancing their efficiency, improving their performance, and reducing weight. This effort will support innovative approaches that will significantly improve the technology in industrial electric motors, which use approximately 70 percent of the electricity consumed by U.S. manufacturers and nearly a quarter of all electricity consumed nationally.

​​DURHAM, N.C.—Cree, Inc., announces the appointment of Daniel Castillo as President, Lighting, effective Nov. 7, 2016. In this role, Castillo will report to Chuck Swoboda and will lead both the commercial and consumer lighting businesses. Castillo joins Cree from Eaton Corporation, where he was most recently Senior Vice President, Oil, Gas and IEC Assemblies. Prior to his work at Eaton, Castillo held leadership roles in lighting and other electrical product areas at both Cooper Industries and General Electric.

"The opportunity to work with a proven leader in LED innovation in the still early stages of LED lighting adoption is compelling. I look forward to working with the Cree Lighting team to deliver operational excellence and enhanced customer value across the business."

"We have made tremendous progress over the past several years building a successful LED lighting business," said Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. "The addition of Danny Castillo to the leadership team brings valuable industry expertise and proven business leadership to Cree as we scale the business to the next level."

"I am truly excited to join Cree at this stage in its evolution," said Danny Castillo. "The opportunity to work with a proven leader in LED innovation in the still early stages of LED lighting adoption is compelling. I look forward to working with the Cree Lighting team to deliver operational excellence and enhanced customer value across the business."

Castillo brings to Cree 25 years of experience with multinational industrial companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.

About Cree

Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, lighting products and semiconductor products for power and radio frequency (RF) applications. Cree believes in better light experiences and is delivering new innovative LED technology that transforms the way people experience light through high-quality interior and exterior LED lighting solutions.

Cree's product families include LED lighting systems and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree's products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and inverters.

BOSTON—Thomas & Betts (T&B), a member of the ABB Group, has received the Industry Partner Award from the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) at the 2016 NECA Convention and Trade Show in Boston. The Industry Partner Award recognizes individuals or organizations allied with the electrical construction industry whose decisions, actions or cooperation with NECA contribute to the industry's success.

"Like NECA, Thomas & Betts was founded at the beginning of the electrical age, and it has become one of the industry's strongest and most innovative leaders," NECA CEO John M. Grau said when he presented the award. "As a member of NECA's Premier Partner sponsorship program, which brings together NECA members and the leading companies in the industry, Thomas & Betts will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping our future."

"We are honored to receive this recognition for our commitment to the electrical industry, and to the continued success of its electrical contractor members," Lindsay said. "We take our partnership very seriously, and feel that only by working together can we ensure that the electrical industry will grow and prosper."

Thomas & Betts Corporation, a member of the ABB Group, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of essential components used to manage the connection, distribution, transmission and reliability of electrical power in utility, industrial, commercial, and residential applications. With a portfolio of more than 200,000 products marketed under more than 45 premium brand names, Thomas & Betts products are found wherever electricity is used. Thomas & Betts' headquarters are in Memphis, Tenn. For more information, please visit www.tnb.com.

IDEA's Data Certification Program uses different metrics to assess the completeness and quality of manufacturer-provided pricing and descriptive product information within 43 different data fields in the IDW. These fields contain the type of content that is used to drive distributors' internal and external-facing systems, and that distributors have identified as critical to accurately selling manufacturers' products.

"The supply chain relies on comprehensive, consistent, and current data to operate effectively," said Paul Molitor, President and CEO, IDEA. "Top manufacturers - like these we are recognizing today - understand the important role such information plays in the electrical channel, and I'm thrilled to see our manufacturers improving the digital content they're providing to their trading partners through the IDW while continuing to work toward full data certification."

The Data Certification Program began with the primary goal of driving manufacturers to load content in all 43 of the critical fields for each of their products in the IDW. After a substantial increase in the number of products with 43 completed data fields - from 16,000 to nearly two and a half million - the Data Certification Program expanded its focus to improving the quality of that information. IDEA has been evaluating the quality of the information for each individual product using programmatic excellence measures based on industry standards and best practices. The manufacturers listed below are recognized for meeting these measures and providing complete, quality data in all 43 critical fields for at least 95% of their products in the IDW.

Along with those listed above, additional IDW manufacturers that have not yet fully attained programmatic quality ("excellence") for at least 95% of their items in the IDW continue to make substantial and comprehensive progress across the majority of these fields. To highlight these improvements, IDEA has recently introduced field-level reports – in addition to the existing item-level reports - that allow distributors to view the percentage of a manufacturer's items within each individual data field that have passed the Data Certification Program's evaluations. These reports are available within the IDW and offer a deeper look at the completeness and quality of the manufacturer-supplied product content accessible through the IDW.